Gain a basic understanding of chemistry
This introductory workshop, based on our popular webinar and eLearning course, will provide you with a basic understanding of some of the most common physicochemical terms used in the prediction of likely exposure routes and hazardous effects; not only for human health but also for environmental fate and effects. What's more, expanding your knowledge of chemistry will help you with the identification of structural alerts, the use of appropriate read across and mechanisms of action.
In this 1 day course, expert chemist and toxicologist Laura Robinson will teach you how to identify some important hazard properties, such as pH and its link with corrosivity, and important exposure routes, including the use of water solubility and Log Kow for predicting absorption, as well as environmental transport and fate. She will also cover chemical nomenclature and polymers.
After this training course, you will be able to:
- Explain the difference between categories of chemicals (organic substances, inorganic substances, metals, polymers, and UVCB);
- Describe the specific ways in which chemicals are named (chemical IUPAC nomenclature) and the use of substance identifiers;
- Outline the way in which chemical properties, such as functional groups (alcohols, amines, halogenated hydrocarbons) influence the toxicity;
- Explain what is meant by a chemical structural alert and their use in predicting potential effects;
- Use commonly available physicochemical properties (water solubility, vapour pressure, surface tension, and Log Kow) to help predict important exposure routes for human health as well as the implications for environmental fate;
- Outline commonly encountered chemical reactions (oxidation and reduction, hydrolysis, electrophilic reactions) in chemistry and their relevance to both human health and environmental related effects;
- Describe the types of chemical bonding (ionic, covalent, metallic); and,
- Explain what is meant by the term 'intermolecular forces' and its significance.